Shield · D. R. Congo, Topoke · ID: 3038121
Michel Thieme, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Description
wood, rattan, rectangular, roof-shaped, a wide horizontal brace, the back of the shield is covered with split bamboo-like reeds tightly bound together, decorated with wickerwork, min. dam., slight traces of usage and abrasion;
one of the oldest sources on the presence of wooden shields in this region is from H. M. Stanley (“Durch den dunklen Weltteil”, Leipzig 1881, vol. II, p. 288): “The shields were shaped like long rectangles, beautifully made from the bark of a palm tree and thus light, tough and impenetrable for knife and spear.”
The object Shield with the object ID 3038121 was part of the auction 79th Tribal Art Auction on March 21, 2015. The object with the lot number 499 achieved a sales price of EUR 750 with an asking price of EUR 600.
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Comparing literature
Zirngibl, Manfred A. & Dieter Plaschke, Afrikanische Schilde, München 1992, p. 90 f.